You've been very patient since the last chapter. Though, for all I know, it may have been 3 seconds since you finished it.

Sesshoumaru watched in mild fascination as, while Angel slept, the wound on her stomach completely healed, leaving only a fresh, pink scar. As soon as the wound closed, her body seized. Her muscles were tense and the grimace of pain returned to her face. He gently shook her, trying to wake her without causing more pain. When it didn't work, he simply picked up the bowl of water on the floor and dumped it over her head.

She woke instantly, coughing and sputtering, but she did not seem to be in physical pain any longer. Though she did seem a bit irate. But after realizing she was actually awake, the first thing she did was feel the newly formed scar across her midriff.

"What the hell?"

"You healed while you slept," he said simply.

"Right... Why am I in your lap?" She looked up at him questioningly.

"It seemed like the best thing to do," he answered her, and without even breaking pace, he stood while lifting her and placing her on the bed once again.

'Okay,' she thought. 'If he's going to steer away from that subject, let's move on to another one.'

"So, is there somewhere I can wash all this blood off?" she asked, now not wanting to pull her top back up for fear of staining it.

"Yes, there is an indoor hot spring downstairs. I'll accompany you," he stated, leaving no room for argument. "I need to bathe as well," he added as an explanation.

When they reached the spring, there were already bathing things there. As Sesshoumaru began disrobing, Angel blushed a deep crimson and turned around but busied herself with disrobing herself to make the action inconspicuous.

Angel stepped into the water, holding a towel to her front, only after she heard the splash signifying that Sesshoumaru was already in. They were separated by a few feet of water. Angel could smell the herbs in the water, relaxing and calming herbs. She could feel the stress and tensions ebbing away. She let out a moan of contentment as she sank in.

"Enjoying yourself," Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "I don't get to spend nearly as much time relaxing in here as I should." He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. They were both sitting on a ledge, letting themselves completely relax in each other's company for the first time.

"That's gotta suck," she said quietly, still reveling in the relaxation.

"Yes, and unfortunately the same is to be said for the garden," he sighed.

"Garden?" Sesshoumaru had obviously peaked her interest.

"Of course," he told her. "My home would not be complete without one. I used to..." Then, their moment of connection was gone. He closed himself back up.

"You used to what?" she pressed.

"Nothing. Finish cleaning yourself, then get out and meet me back in the library," he said, ending the conversation. He got out, wrapped a towel around himself, gathered his clothes, and stalked out of the room.

"Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles, he is very puzzling," she muttered to herself as she reached for the soap and washcloth. She scrubbed at the fresh scar while unconsciously humming the tune to Every Heart, until the scent of blood, now in the water and still a bit on her, reached her nose. "Eww, Naraku blood. How could I have missed that? Gross, gross, gross..." She scrubbed away again, trying to ignore the scent, which was blessedly fading, and humming to herself again. This time she was humming My Will, again unconscious that she was doing so.

"What are you humming?"

"Kya-!" Angel plunged into the water up to her neck, until she realized that it was a little girl's voice asking the question. She rose a few inches out of the water to see a pair of large brown eyes peering at her from under short brown bangs on a smiling face. "Oh, hello, Rin-chan. Sorry I yelled, you surprised me."

"Really? Rin never surprised anyone before, except for Jaken," she frowned slightly. "He always yelled at me after. But then Sesshoumaru-sama usually stepped on him." The smile reappeared.

"Well, you sure surprised me, and I'm not going to yell at you," she said, giving Rin a smile very close to genuine. She stood up, out of the water, the towel securely in front of her walked over to where her things lay. "Rin could you turn around a moment while I dry off and get my clothes on?"

"Sure," Rin piped and wheeled around to face away as Angel did exactly what she said she would. She put the kimono back on, as it had not been dirtied and wrapped her hair in a towel.

"Alright, you can face me again," she told Rin when she'd finished.

"What were you humming before?" Rin asked again. She had an unexpectedly good short-term memory for and eight-year-old.

"I was humming? What did it sound like?" She truly hadn't realized. When Rin hummed a few bars, she recognized the song. "It's just a song I like. It's called My Will."

"Will you sing it to Rin?" she pleaded.

"Alright... How about in the garden? Where is that?" Angel had wanted to visit it ever since Sesshoumaru had mentioned it... less than an hour ago.

"Ooh, yes. Rin loves the garden," she squealed. "Rin will show you where it is." Rin led Angel outside, to the garden. It was beautiful, with nearly every flower one could possibly imagine. At least 20 different kinds of roses, maybe 100 different species of orchid, lilac, lavender, and hundreds of others filled the vast space.

"Oh, my... It's gorgeous," Angel was in awe of the splendor. For a moment, she shocked that Sesshoumaru had created this, but then she remembered that he had been an almost completely different person in his home. The lush, green grass cushioned her bare feet as they walked to a small clearing surrounded by bushes of honeysuckle. They sat on the stone bench; Rin climbed promptly into Angel's lap. Angel popped a few blossoms off from the bush behind them, using the stamen and pistol to push the sweet nectar out of the bottom, and licked it away.

"Okay, you said that you would tell Rin what you were singing," Rin reminded her.

"Wow, you've got a pretty long attention span for someone so young. Added to your good memory," she commented. "You'd do pretty well where I'm from."

"Thanks," Rin smiled brightly. "Would please sing me the song now?"

"Alright...

Sotto mezameru

Hakanai omoi zutto donna toki demo negau yo

Anata ni todoku you ni to...

"Ato sukoshi" to iu kyori ha fumidasenakute

Itsumo me no mae wa tozasareteita no

Aitai aenai hibi o kasaneru tabi ni

Tsuyoi tokimeki wa kinasa ni naru yo

Moshimo "eien" to iu mono ga aru nara

Toumawari shite demo shinjitemitai

"Bukiyou dakara kizu tsuku koto mo aru" to

Wakattemo tomaranai mou darenimo makenai

Anata no koto o omou soredakede namida ga ima afuredashitekuru yo

Hakanai omoi zutto donna toki demo negau yo

Anata ni todoku you ni to...

Tsuyogaru koto dake shirisugiteita watashi

Dakedo ano toki kara mayoi wa kieta yo

Misetai to omou mono ga kitto atte kikasetai kotoba mo takusan aru

Egao naki kao mo zenbu mite hoshikute

Matteiru watashi wa yamete "chansu" o tsukamu yo

Anata no koto o omou soredakede kokoro ga tsuyoku nareru ki ga suru yo

Hakanai omoi zutto donna toki demo negau yo

Anata ni todoku you ni to...

Anata no koto o omou soredakede namida ga ima afuredashitekuru yo

Tookute koe ga todokanai dakedo itsuka wa kanarazu todoku you ni

Shinjite la la la la la la

Shinjite la la la la la la

Shinjite la la la la la la," her voice had a lower pitch that gave the song a soft lilt to it.

Soft clapping made her jump slightly. "I haven't heard singing like that in a long time," Sesshoumaru said, walking along the path to them. Angel had failed to notice his approach yet again.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin squealed happily. "Can Angel-sama stay for a long time, pleeease? Rin really likes her."

"I'm staying only as long as I have to," Angel answered, saving Sesshoumaru from having to do so.

"Yes, and we are not sure how long or short that will be, yet," Sesshoumaru finished.

Rin pouted for just a moment before resuming her grin. "But Rin can play with her as long as she's here, right?"

"As long as you do not bother her," Sesshoumaru reassured her. "But run along for now."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!" she said before doing exactly as she was told and running off to find another way to amuse herself.

Angel did not even try to hide the smile playing at her lips. "What is so funny?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"You," she gave her famous half-grin. "Don't worry. Not funny 'ha-ha,' funny 'Kawaii.'"

"Kawaii?" he only seemed a little bit horrified. To think that he, Lord Sesshoumaru, Ruler of the Western Lands, was being called 'Kawaii.'

"She looks up to you as sort of a father-figure," she said explaining what she meant. "You and I both know what kind of effect a father can have on a person's life. You do a pretty good job for someone so... inexperienced in that department. I mean it as a complement. But do you want some advice?"

"Do I have a choice?" he said.

"Of course, but saying yes is the better choice," she smirked.

"Fine, then," he gave in.

"Rin doesn't get to see people very often, right? So, she's going to need a female role model. I know you probably got the whole 'You need to find a proper mate' speech from your father a hundred times, but I'm going to put a new spin on it. When you do pick a mate, you should probably pick someone that will accept the fact that this girl lives with you, or you'd better be willing to give Rin up. You know better than anyone how most youkai feel about humans. But Rin is going to need a female, especially when she gets older, about age 10 or 11 to about 19 or maybe today about 16. It depends on when you are going to let her get married."

"Married! She's far to young to think about that," he said quickly.

"Ah, paternal instincts," she chuckled. "Kawaii."

Song translation!

Quietly awakening...

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you...

Unable to move forward across "just a little more" distance

The way I see before me is always blocked

Every time the days I want to see you but can't pile up,

My strong heartbeat turns into heartbreak.

If there is such a thing as "eternity,"

I want to believe, even if I have to take the long way.

Although I know that I've been hurt before because I'm clumsy

I won't stop; I won't give in to anyone.

I think of you

and that alone is enough

to make the tears start to flow now

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you...

I've known all too well about pretending to be strong.

But since then, my doubts have vanished.

There's definitely things I want to show you

And so many words I want to hear

I want to see all sides of you, when you laugh and cry

So I'll stop waiting

and seize my "chance."

I think of you,

and I feel like that alone is enough

to make my heart grow stronger.

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you...

I think of you

and that alone is enough

to make the tears start to flow now

My distant voice can't reach you now, but so that someday

it definitely will...

Believe. la la la la la la...

Believe. la la la la la la...

Believe. la la la la la la...